And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

LUKE 4:28KJV
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Luke 4:28 (KJV)

What does Luke 4:28 mean?

Luke 4:28 describes how everyone in the synagogue became extremely angry when they heard what Jesus said. The verse highlights the strong, emotional reaction of the people listening to Jesus in their place of worship.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a Jewish audience in the synagogue of Nazareth, his hometown. He has just finished reading from the prophet Isaiah and then made comments that challenged their expectations and pride. The people’s anger is not mild; the verse uses language that points to a deep, intense wrath, setting the stage for their later attempt to drive Jesus out of town.

The Greek behind Luke 4:28

  • ὀργή (transliteration: orgē, translated here as "wrath") means a strong, passionate anger. In this context, it suggests the people were not just annoyed but deeply outraged, which helps explain their extreme reaction in the following verses.
  • ἐπλήσθησαν (transliteration: eplēsthēsan, translated as "were filled") often carries the sense of being completely overtaken or controlled by something. Here, it shows that their anger was overwhelming, not just a passing feeling.

Why Luke 4:28 matters

  • This verse clears up any idea that Jesus’s words were received calmly or with mild disagreement; the reaction was immediate and intense.
  • The strong anger of the synagogue crowd helps explain why the following verses describe an attempt to harm Jesus, showing how threatening his message was to their sense of identity.
  • Luke 4:28 connects to the wider passage by marking a turning point in Jesus’s relationship with his hometown, highlighting the cost of speaking hard truths.

Where else these words appear

“wrath” Greek G2372 · used in 18 verses

  • Acts 19:28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
  • Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
  • Revelation 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

“filled” Greek G4130 · used in 24 verses

  • Matthew 22:10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
  • Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
  • Acts 3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

“synagogue” Greek G4864 · used in 57 verses

  • Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
  • Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
  • Acts 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.